Bee-hive



(No Model.) J H. HOWE. 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

BEE HIVE. No. 384,627. Patented June 19, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES HENRY HOWE, OF PAINTSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

BEE-HIV E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,627, dated June 19,1888.

Application filed July 15, 1887. Serial No. 244,389.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES HENRY Hows, a citizen of the United States,residing at Paintsville, in the county of Johnson and State ofKentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bee-Hives; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This improved bee-hive is composed of a series of drawers or boxes whichare inserted in tiers in a suitable open frame-work, each box or drawerbeing independently removable from the frame and each being providedwith a slide at top and bottom, so that each may be brought intocommunication with the one below or above or entirely isolated. The openframework and the honey-boxes are inclosed by a double-walled removablecasing, which excludes the light from'the boxes and equalizes thetemperature. The hive is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front exterior view of the hive; Fig. 2, aperspective view of the hive, with the outer casing and one honey-boxremoved; Fig. 3, a central vertical section from front to back of thehive complete. Fig. 4 is a plan view, and

Fig. 5 a side View, of one of the boxes removed.

The frame-work of the hive consists of a base, A, to which are fastenedthree vertical walls, B B, constituting the sides and back of the frame,and a top, 0. The front is left open and unobstructed. Fixed between theside walls are a series of horizontal shelves, D D, corresponding innumber with the number of honey-boxes, three, (the number shown) being aproper number. The lower shelf is raised a slight distance above thebase A. Between each set of shelves the sides and back are provided withlarge openings a a to permit inspection of the boxes without removingthe same. Each shelf, and also the base and top,

has an elongated laterally-extending slotor aperture, 1), at its center,the several apertures all being in the same vertical line.

E E are the honey-boxes, which are placed upon the several shelves, eachfitting snugly (No model.)

within the space alotted to it. As in most respects each box is theexact counterpart of the rest, the description of one will suffice forall.

Each box is composed of a top, X, and bottom Y which is to offerasupportfor the honey-comb and so prevent, in as far as possible, the attachingof the comb to the sides of the box. This frame F rests upon a movablebottom, a, and

supports a movable top, d, in the box.' The movable bottoms c and tops dare interposed between the frame F and the permanent tops -X and bottomsY of the boxes, so as to facilitate the removal of the honey from theboxes. Each box has on its front side a knob, o, for withdrawing it.,Each box has in its top X and bottom Y an elongated laterally-extendingslot or aperture, f, at ils center conforming in size and shape to theapertures b I). These apertures f f are so arranged that when the boxesare in position on the shelves the several apertures f f are all in linewith the apertures b b, so that a continuous passage is formed throughthe several boxes. The movable bottoms and tops 0 d have also corresponding apertures, e 6.

Each box is provided with two cutoffslides, G G, which slide betweensuitable ways or guides,fj, formed on the top and bottom of the box.Each slide is as long as the depth of the box, and is provided with aslot or aperture, g, which is adapted to be brought into coincidencewith an aperture, f, in the permanent top or bottom of the box to permitaccess to the interior of the box. Each slide has on the front sidethatis, the windowless side of the box and the open side of the frame-anoperatingknob, 0. The backward movement of each slide is limited by itscoming into contact with the wall of the frame. WVithv the exception ofthe top slide of the top box, the apertures in all of the cut-off slidesare so arranged that when the slides are pushed in to their for thestlimit the apertures 9 will coincide with the apertures ff and I) b, sothat free communication is allowed between the several boxes. The topslide, G, of the top box when so pushed in closes the top aperture insaid box and also the one in the top 0 of the frame-work 13. Between thelowest shelf, D, and the base Aof theframe asimilarly-apertured slideislocated, and this also when pushed in closes the aperture in the base Aand permits no communication through it to the honeyboxes.

H is the outer inclosing-casing, having an open bottom, so that it maybe placed over the frame-work. The side walls of the outerinclosing-casing are double, as shown, and may be and preferably arefilled with sawdust, excelsior, or similar light porous packing, so asto render the walls non-conductors ofheat. In this manner thetemperature within the hive will be equalized and the bees will not besubjected to sudden changes of heat and cold. The casing [its closelyover the framework containing the boxes, and can only be placed over thesame when all the slides G G are pushed in as far as they will go. Thecasing has in its top an aperture, 71, similar to the apertures b, c,f,and g, and so located in the top that when the top is in position overthe boxes, 820., it will be in line with the other apertures. As long,however, as the slide G is in place in the top box, this aperture Itwill not afford communication into the hive. The bees obtain entranceinto the hive through a slotted aperture. 1', near the bottom of thecasing at its front, and a horizontal shelf, I, attached to the exteriorof the casing on a level with said aperture offers a foot-hold for thebees to alight on preparatory to entering through said aperture. Thisaperture communicates directly with a slotted aperture, m in the lowerpart of the front side of the lowest box, which is the only box providedwith a front aperture. Having gained access to this box, the bees havefree communication with those above.

There is necessarily a space between the fronts of the boxes andtheinner surface ofthe front of the casing to allow room for the knobs0. To prevent the bees entering this space, and to oblige them to enterthe boxes, a removable fillingstrip, J, is placed between the front sideof the lower part of the lower box and the casing, this strip having anaperture, 8, establishing free communication between the aper tures i m.

Since the casing can only be put in place when the cutoff slides aremoved in as far as possible, it follows that when it is in place thehive is in proper working order.

Vhile the number of boxes shown is three, there is no necessarylimitation to that number. There may be two or any larger number.

In any case the lowest box or entrance-chamber is the brood-chamber, andthose above it are the honey boxes or chambers.

To drive out the bees,so as to take thehoney, the casing is firstremoved and the upper slide, G, of the top box is moved, so as toestablish communication into the upper box through the aperture 7) inthe top of the frame-work. Smoke is then introduced through thisaperture, driving out all the bees into the box immediately below. "Whenall are driven out, the upper slide of the intermediate box (into whichthe bees have been driven) is drawn partly, so as to close the aperturein the upper part of the said intermediate box. The uppermost box canthen be removed. Continuing this operation, all boxes containing honeycan be removed. Empty boxes are inserted to take the place of thoseremoved. The bees can then be transferred into the empty boxes by areversal of the smoking process.

To feed the bees, the front slot, m, of the lowest or brood box isclosed by reversing the filling-strip J. The bottom slide (between thethe lowest shelf and the base A) is then removed, so as to open the slotin the base and establish communication therethrough with the boxes.Smoke is then introduced through this aperture, driving the bees out ofthe lowest or brood boxinto those above. The lower slide of thehoney-box immediately above is then closed, confining the bees. Thelowest or brood box is then removed and the food placed therein, and it(or a new box with food in it) is then replaced in the frame. The bottomslide is then closed and the slide of the honeybox above is opened,admitting the bees to the brood-box containing the food.

In a hive thus constructed the honey can be removed without destroyingthe bees, and all the operations of feeding, 850., can be performedwithout permitting the escape of any of the bees.

I claim as my invention-- In a bee-hive, a suitable supporting framework providd with apertures in its base and top and a series of boxes ordrawers removabl y placed therein one over the other, each of said boxesor drawers having apertures in its top and bottom, said apertures beingso located that when said boxes are i n position in the framework theymay communicate with each other and also with the exterior of the hivethrough said apertures in the base and top of the framework, andseparate cut-off slides for the apertures in the base of the hive andfor the top and bottom apertures in each box, said slides being soconstructed that when pushed in as far as possible the apertures in thebase and top of the frame-work are closed, but all the apertures betweenthe boxes are opened, so that the boxes are in com munioation with eachother, in combination with an inclosingeasing which is placed over theframe work and boxes, which casing can only be so placed when all thesaid slides are pushed in as far as pos; sible, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HENRY HOW'E.

\Vitnesses:

W. J. WILLIAMs, E. B. BUFFINGTON.

ICC

